永遇乐
[宋]李清照
落日熔金,
暮云合璧,
人在何处?
染柳烟浓,
吹梅笛怨,
春意知几许?
元宵佳节,
融和天气,
次第岂无风雨?
来相召,
香车宝马[1],
谢他酒朋诗侣。
中州[2]盛日,
闺门多暇,
记得偏重三五[3]。
铺翠冠儿,
拈金雪柳[4],
簇带争济楚。
如今憔悴,
风鬟雾鬓[5],
怕见夜间出去。
不如向帘儿底下,
听人笑语。
[1]香车宝马:这里指贵族妇女所乘坐的、雕镂工致装饰华美的车驾。
[2]中州:即中土、中原。这里指北宋的都城汴京(今河南开封)。
[3]三五:十五日。此处指元宵节。
[4]雪柳:雪白如柳叶的头饰。
[5]风鬟雾鬓:发髻蓬乱。指无心打扮。
Tune: Joy of Eternal Union
Li Qingzhao
The setting sun like molten gold,
Gathering clouds like marble cold,
Where is my dear?
Willows take misty dye,
Flutes for mume blossoms sigh.
Can you say spring is here?
On the Lantern Festival
The weather is agreeable.
Will wind and rain not come again?
I thank my friends in verse and wine,
With scented cabs and horses fine
Coming to invite me in vain.
I remember the pleasure
Ladies enjoyed at leisure
In the capital on this day:
Headdress with emerald
And filigree of gold
Vied in fashion display.
Now with a languid air
And dishevelled frosty hair,
I dare not go out in the evening.
I’d rather forward lean
Behind the window screen
To hear the others’ laughter ring.
This lyric was written on a Lantern Festival, the 15th day of the lst lunar month, after the Ju-rchen invasion. The poetess thought of the pleasure enjoyed in the lost capital and felt grieved over the death of her dear husband.